A map of the world is absolutely enthralling. Though many opinionated it a series of misfortune befalling Alice, I would depict it quite the opposite. Alice and Howard living in one of the last dairy farm with their two children did not predict or even prepare for how precarious safety turned their lives. Alice, having to deal with one despair was again snarled with another, which I believe helped her to get through the other. It is a story of how a family recovers and friendship sustains. Every character was narrated with such complicity by Jane Hamilton. Jane, remarkably makes you dance, squirm, twists, tear, and shiver with her words. I love her prose, leaving no minute details behind. Every scene placidly described, every line of hers lingers on your mind. I believe Jane is one of the few writers that are able to pen down a life saga so sensibly that you might find hard to believe that is it just a novel. As for me, it is more than just a book. Jane has become one my most favorite writer. Map of the World is a must read novel for its astounding story unified with Jane’s talent.

This book took me a while to read. Parts of it were very beautiful. I didn’t like the characterization of the black characters. It was one of those books that gave me a stomachache because I was nervous, and because I understand, as do all humans, the feeling of wanting so badly to go back in time and make different choices.

The death of her friends child was beautifully written, her description of her depression without calling it depression, amazing. IMHO that's where the story should have ended. Why tack on a child abuse charge, a trial, jail, and her husband cheating?

I am fascinated by the concept of how a small error or mistake can change your life entirely. It was also why I enjoyed House Of Sand And Fog. The circumstances are tragic in both of these books, yet it does make me wonder how a small misstep or error in judgement can result in so much going wrong. The error in judgement by the main character here is something I have done, yet the results were not tragic by some turn of fate. It has also happened to people around me and makes you so thankful that what could have happened did not. The havoc that the one mistake wreaks for everyone in this book makes your heart ache. I passed this book along to a friend awhile back and she returned it to me, saying that given the subject matter, she couldn't bear to read it. I understand that and yet, found that it irritated me somehow. I find reading about feared/terrible events helps me work them out in my head. I don't read books about horrible things because I want them to happen or even think that they will happen. Terrible things happen to people all the time and I feel that if I can read about it maybe I'll be more prepared when it does. Is that screwed-up thinking? At any rate, I did enjoy the book, enjoyed the writing of Ms. Hamilton and felt for her, her family and the family of the child. The way she writes is also the attraction, the ability of some authors to just beautifully string together words.

At times riveting A MAP OF THE WORLD could also be terribly long winded. I enjoyed Howard's voice more than Alice's. I also found the prison commentary a bit tedious.

One day, just for a moment, Alice Goodwin stops watching her best friend's two-year-old daughter and the child drowns in the Goodwin's pond. The tragedy opens a Pandora's box of troubles. Alice is accused of child abuse, thrown in jail, and put on trial. Yet, just as in the ancient myth of Pandora, there is still hope.

The beautiful wording and style was the only saving grace in this book where NOTHING happens! Three events take place: 1. The drowning of Lizzy in Alice's pond, 2. The accusation of child molestation (Alice accused by troubled Robbie Mackessy) and the jailing of Alice, and 3. The trial and release of Alice (not guilty). The rest of the book seemed forced!...Howard and Theresa's pseudo-affair, the selling of the farm, Alice's jail experience. Frankly, it would've been a much better short story or novella.

I first read this when Emma was four years old, or thereabouts. It gave me nightmares, panic attics, the shakes. It is pretty much every mother's nightmare, every marriage's nightmare, every best friend's nightmare, all rolled into one.

Much later when Emma was old enough to swim (I think she was in high school and on the swim team at the time) I re-read this and was able to separate myself enough from the terror and the loss that it was a much better and less sleep-depriving read.

One of my favorites, now that the girls are all grown up.

At the time I read this I had small kids and had a close friend with kids the same ages. I could see something like this happening so easily and it scared me, not only about losing a child, but losing a close friendship because of losing a child-- either yours or theirs. And losing that friend just when you need her the most!! OH-- the pain!! A double loss! This was a well-written engrossing book. Deeply moving. I love Jane Hamilton's style.

So many things I could say about this book. Is it about forgiveness? It ends with that and so I guess it is. But there’s a lot about flawed society and systems. This book was a lot and hard to say I enjoyed it because it was also horrible. Many many issues to chew on.

Literally rolled my eyes at this book when I finished.

I’ve been meaning to read this for 30 years since reading an A+ review in the then (and maybe still?) excellent US mag Entertainment Weekly, and buying it for Liz and me. She read it and loved it, I never did for whatever reason. Finally.

It’s a very good book: well-written, well-drawn characters, cleverly plotted. But emotionally I kept zoning in and out - it’s a highly emotional book, yet none of the major characters quite struck home emotionally, and for this book to be great I think you need to find that connection – not that you need to like them, but you need to understand their responses and feel their feelings. Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn’t. Parts were engrossing and engaging, others I wanted to edit. The end is kind-of neat and kind-of open-ended and I liked that ambiguity.

So a somewhat bitty review for a somewhat bitty book. Nearly but not quite, so a 3.5 rounded up

This book deals with a child’s accidental death and child abuse allegations . It deals with friendship and forgiveness and is written well, but I am not rating it higher because I found it pretty depressing at times. I am glad I read it, however.